Gary Neville fears Kobbie Mainoo’s impressive debut against Everton will be enough to prick the interest of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
Manchester United continued their fine league form with a 3-0 victory away from home, with Erik ten Hag’s men winning their first match of the season by more than a one goal margin.
United managed to stifle the angry Goodison Park atmosphere with one of the greatest goals the Premier League has ever seen from Alejandro Garnacho.
The Argentine’s acrobatic bicycle kick got the ball rolling for United who were far from their best during the first half, but managed to withstand the Everton pressure and go on to secure victory with second half goals from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.
Despite Garnacho’s heroics, there was another teenager on the field who stole the show; Mainoo impressing on his first Premier League start.
The 18-year-old was the class of the field, and dictated the play from midfield with excellent short and long range passing.
One of the most impressive aspects of Mainoo’s performance was his composure, with youngster rarely making a poor decision on the ball and looked like he had decades of experience in front of a very hostile crowd.
Gary Neville was quick to praise the midfielder for how he handled the occasion.
“He’s gone in here at Goodison Park, in what could have been the most ferocious atmospheres for many a year in a hostile environment, and he looked class,” Neville said on Sky Sports.
“We know he’s class, but he looked class in that environment.”
Kobbie Mainoo impressed for Manchester United against Everton (Image: Getty)
While most Manchester United fans would be over the moon with Mainoo’s full debut, Gary Neville is actually concerned that the English youngster may have played too well.
“The biggest compliment I can pay him, and it hurts to say this, I hope people can take this in the right spirit… he looked like a Manchester City player,” added Neville.
“Honestly, I was watching him and thinking, ‘that’s a player that Pep Guardiola will be looking at and thinking, I want him in my midfield, that’s what my midfield players do.”